Locking device for drain-valve operating rods



May 15, 1928.

F. DICKMAN LOCKING DEVICE FOR DRAIN VALVE OPERATING RODS Filed M34116, 1927 i Patented May 15,1928a LOUIS r. nIcKMAN, or covmcron, KENTUCKY.

names LOCKING DEVICE FOR DRAIN-VALVE OPERATING nons.

Application filed May 16, 1927. Serial No. 191,766. I

The present .invention relates to release valves associated with the auxiliary reservoirs of the air brake system on railway cars, and has reference more particularly to a device for locking the pull rod associated with the release valve in an outwardly pulled position to permit the auxiliary reservoir to be bled until the brakes are entire- 1y disengaged from the wheels.

One of the important objects of thepresent invention is to provide a means for looking the pull rod in its outermost pulled position for maintaining the release valve open, said locking means being automatically released by the jar or vibration of a car when the latter is being coupled up with another car.

. A'stillfurther object is to provide a lock-. ing device of the above mentioned character which will at all times be positive and elficient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed, the same being further simple in construction, inexpensive, and strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the s'everalviews: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the locking device embodying my invention showing the same in actual use in looking oneof the pull rods in its outermost position.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective, view of the'inverted U-shaped bracket.

Figure 3 is a similar view. of the locking pawl, and r Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the rack member forming a part'of the present invention.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerall designates the bottom portion of a-railway car, beneath which is supported the auxil- I with this release valve in the conventional iary' reservoir 2 of the air brake system; Associated with this auxiliary reservoir is a normally closed release valve designated generally by the numeral 3, cooperating p y. nnected to the respective I ends of the rocker lever dare the 'pull rods 5, the outerends thereof extending laterally beyond the opposite sides of. the car 1 and the outerend of each pull rod is formed with an actuating handle 6.

A guide 7 depends from the bottom of the car at each side thereofand this guide is formed with a transverse opening 8 through which the outer end tive pull rod extends. p l At the present time, when itis desired to release the air from the auxiliary reservoir 2, the operator pulls outwardly on the ban dle 6 of either pull rodandis obliged to hold t'lierod in its outwardly pulleclposition until all the air. has been released from the reservoir and this operation requires'the expenditure of a considerab le length of time.

portion of the respee- It is therefore one ofthe salient objects of thepresent invention to provide a means pulled position, thus obviating the necessity of having to manually hold the handle 6 while bleeding the air brake system; and to this end,- I provide a substantially inverted U-shaped bracket 9 which is formed from strap iron and this bracket isadapted' for disposition through the opening 8 formed in the guide 7 it being of course understood that the arm 10 is initially disposed in the same horizontal plane as the crown or base portion 11 in order to permit the bracket to be properly positioned through the slot or opening 8 and when the crown portion 11 is properly'positioned in the slot or 'open-' ing 8. the inner arm 10 is then bent down wardly for disposition against the inner side of the guide in the manner clearly shown in Figure 1. Thej otherarm 120i this inverted U-shaped bracket 9 has formed on its lower free end a looped portion l 3, the purpose of which will be presently described. ,.There is suflicient space within the opening or slot, 8, to accommodate both the p'ullrod 5 andthe bracket without in- T1 1 a v l looped portion 13 formed on the lower free end of the outer arm 120i the inverted U-shaped bracket 9-, anda suitable pin 16 extends through the registering looped portions 13- and for pivotally connecting the inner end of the pawl to the lower end of the outer arm 12 of the bracket 9.

A weight is provided on the bottom of the forward end portion of this pivoted pawl 14 and the outer free end of the pawl is beveled as is clearly illustrated in Figure 3. I I v The locking means further comprehends the provision of a rack member which comprises a plate 18 adapted to be secured on the outer end portion of the pull rod 5 adjace'nt the handle 6 by means of suitable clamps 19, the plate 18 being formed with openings 20 to accommodate said clamping means; Thebottom face of the'plate 18 is formed with the transversely extending ratchet teeth 21 and with which the beveled outer end of the pivoted pawl 14 is adapted for cooperation in the manner to be presently described. I I v In the operation'of my invention, the trainman pulls outwardly on the; handle 6 as usual and thereby opens the release valve 3 and the pivoted pawl 14 is brought into engagement with the ratchet teeth 21 formed in the bot-tom face of the plate 18, and due to ,the tendency of the spring associated with the release valve to normally urge the .pull rod inwardly, said pivoted pawl will be maintained in locking engagement with one of the ratchet teeth, thereby holding the pull rod in its outwardly pulled position so that the air in the auxiliary reservoir 2 may be entirely exhausted therefrom.

The locking means is automatically released-by the jar or vibration of the railway ear caused when the car is moved and mani festly such jarring action will disengage the pawl 14 from' engagement with the ratchet teeth 21 formed in the bottom'face of the plate 18 and the weight 17 associated with the pivoted pawl will cause the same to a swing downwardly entirely out of the way of the pull'rod and the rack member carried thereb and the spring controlled release valve will automatically be moved to a closed position, and will simultaneously move the pull rod inwardly to its normal position.

It willt hu's be seen from the foregoing descriptionthat' I have provided a high- 1y novel yet simple device for locking a 'pull rod for actuating the release valve of the auxiliary reservoir of an air brake system of a railway car so that it will not be necbe positive and efiicient in its operation and will not necessitate the alterations of the parts of the railway car with which the device is associated in installing the same.

'While I have shown the preferred em bodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the size, shape and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention and" the scope of the appended claims. 5 1

Having thus described the invention, what Iclaim asnew is r 1. In combination with a railway car, and the auxiliary airbrake reservoir having a. normally closed drain valve, a pull rod for operating the valve, a guide at the side of the car provided with a slot through which the pull rod extends, a substantially inverted U-shaped bracket having its base port-ion disposed within the slot, the 'armsbeing arranged on opposite sides of the guide, a rack member carried by the outer end portion of the pull rod, and a pawl pivoted on the outer arm of the inverted U-shaped bracket, the free end of the pivoted pawl adapted for engagement with the rack member for holding the rod in its outwardly pulled position,

said pivoted pawl adapted to bereleased 2111- f tomatically from engagement with the rack member by the jar of thecar.

2. In combination with a rallway car, and the auxihary air brake reservoir having a normally closed drain valve, a pull rod for operating the valve, a guide at the side of the car provided with a slot through which the pull rodextends, a substantially inverted U-shaped bracket having its base por-' tion disposed within the slot, the arms being arranged on opposite sides of the guide, a rack member carried by the outer end portion of the pull rod, a pawl pivoted on the outer arm of the inverted U-shaped'bracket,

the free end of the pivoted pawl adapted, for

operating the valve, a guide at the side of the car provided with a slot through which the pull rod extends, a substantially inverted U-shaped bracket having its base pora rack member carried by the outer end portion of the pull rod, a pawl, interfitting tion disposed within said slot, the'arms be-- ing arranged on opposite sides of-thegulde,

loops formed at the adjacent ends'of the rod in its outwardly pulled position, said pawl and the outer arm of the inverted .U- pivoted pawl adapted to be released autoshaped bracket, a pin extending through matically from engagement with the rack by 10 said interfitting loops whereby said pawl is the jar of the car, and a weight carried by I pivotally secured to said arm, the free end the free end portion of the pivoted pawl. of the pivoted pawl adapted for engagement In testimony whereof I aflix my signature;

with the rack member for holding the pull V LOUIS F. DICKMAN. i 

